In addition to the Conference Ministry staff, the work of the conference is done in large part by the Conference Board and three committees: Pastoral Leadership, Christian Formation, and Outreach & Service. As a glimpse into the work of our conference, these three committees and the Conference Board were each invited to share a short story of recent committee activity. 

THE WORK OF THE PASTORAL LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
by Kelsey Guckenberger, pastor of Christ Community Church, Des Moines, IA

Jeremiah 17:7-8
Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in God. 
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
It's leaves are always green. 
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit. 

Becoming a pastor is a long process. There are late nights of studying for Church History exams in the library, early morning commutes to Field Education placements, cramming everything you have learned about yourself as a ministering person into 1,500 characters (including spaces) for your Mennonite Leadership Information form (ML), waiting for churches to call you, interviewing with a congregation, discerning with the congregation if God is calling you there, and interviewing with a group of experienced and wise people on the Pastoral Leadership Committee (PLC).

Amidst this process it is easy to get caught up in the small details and big questions. Where will I be called? Will my spouse be able to find a job there? How will we be welcomed into the community? In all of the uncertainty that comes with becoming a pastor, we are invited to do the same thing that we are called to do for our entire ministry: to trust in God. 

The process of becoming a pastor calls us to trust, because trusting in God is more important than preaching the best sermon, or having a great resume, or reading the latest book. In the end, no amount of achievement, or education, or personality will make us faithful. Pastors are called to put down deep roots and reach for the living water that only Christ can give. In times when things are going well or times such as these that are difficult and dry, we are called to root ourselves in that living water and guide others to trust as well. For when we are rooted in Christ, we will not fail to bear much fruit. 

Kelsey Guckenberger was installed and licensed for pastoral ministry at Christ Community Church in Des Moines, IA on June 30, 2019.

The Pastoral Leadership Committee is charged with developing and maintaining high quality pastoral leadership for Central Plains congregations. PLC works closely with Susan Janzen, the Conference Minister for Ministerial Leadership. You can read more about the PLC on our website. http://www.centralplainsmc.org/pastoral-leadership.html.

THE WORK OF THE CHRISTIAN FORMATION COMMITTEE
by Carol Eisenbeis, Salem Mennonite Church, Freeman, SD, member of Christian Formation Committee

A cozy winter evening. Three good books. A time to gather with friends. 

Combine those elements with the magic of the internet and that's the celebration our Christian Formation Committee envisioned as we planned to host an event to showcase some of the books in our conferences' Shalom Readers Library. This would be a celebration of our love for stories that promote peaceful ways. And, a webinar format would allow us to create a virtual experience, erasing the miles between us and bringing together groups of children from multiple Central Plains Mennonite Conference churches. 

The date was set for Wednesday evening, February 12, and plans were in place for our first attempt at such an event. Those plans, however, were met with a few challenges, most of which resulted from some less-than-favorable winter weather conditions. Rather than gatherings in groups at a variety of churches, many of the participants logged in from their own homes; this was an evening to remain where it was warm and safe. 

While weak internet signlas and limitations of some of our devices impacted the streaming quality, we forged on with three readers taking turns reading the featured picture books, Abuela's Weave by Omar S. Castaneda, An Angel for Solomon Singer by Cynthia Rylant, and The Rag Coat  by Lauren Mills. The messages of these three texts focused on the relationship between a young girl and her grandmother, the impact of a kind waiter on a man who had little in the world to give him hope, and a group of school children who realized the pain caused by making fun of a classmate. 

Stories play a powerful role in helping people broaden their perspectives. Stories allow us to make emotional connections with the author's message and empower us to see things from a different point of view. The stories we share with our children have the power to plan seeds of change that can impact our world in positive ways. 

Our committee plans to tweak our approach and try something like this again. By bringing together some good books and gathered groups of friends, we hope to plant seeds with stories that have the power to make the world a place where peaceful ways and kindness prevail. 

The purpose of the Christian Formation Committee (CFC) is to assist the members of CPMC to grow continually in Christ-likeness. The CFC does this by promoting Christian formation resources and equipping formation leaders. The CFC works closely with Amanda Bleichty, Conference Minister for Christian Formation.

More information about the Shalom Readers and an annotated book list can be found on the CPMC website, http://www.centralplainsmc.org/shalom-readers.html. Shalom Readers books "reflect core Christian values of peace and justice from an Anabaptist perspective."

During the COVID-19 outbreak, CFC has been hosting occasional Shalom Read-Alouds. Pastors are sent invitations to these Read-Alouds to disperse throughout the congregation. Please contact Amanda Bleichty if you have any questions. 

THE WORK OF THE OUTREACH AND SERVICE COMMITTEE 
by Chris Eisenbeis, Salem Mennonite Church, Freeman, SD, chair of Outreach and Service Committee

"Musings of a Recovering Racist." That was the title of a webinar on racism presented by the Outreach and Service Committee on three successive Tuesdays--February 11, 18, and 25. Our presenter was Drick Boyd, professor emeritus of Eastern University (EU) in Philadelphia. Boyd's classes at EU focused on urban theology, leadership, social justice, and race and ethnic relations. As evidenced in the webinar title, the hard truth exists that we all have some aspects of racism present in our lives. Even the most well-intentioned among us must deal with those aspects on an ongoing basis. 

Boyd shared from his own personal experiences with racism, his insights gained in teaching and writing, and the thoughts of other experts in the field. 

Our first session provided an overview by defining terms. We learned that in addition to people's words and actions, racism is also present in our thoughts, social systems and institutions. 

White fragility was addressed in our second session. Why is it so difficult for white people to talk about race? Guilt, fear, social taboos, and our own experiences with race all contribute to our discomfort in these discussions. 

In our final session Boyd guided us in thinking about disrupting these patterns and how white people might be empowered to talk about race effectively and with purpose. 

We had between 8 and 13 church groups, other small groups, or individuals taking part in each webinar. Ample opportunities were provided for questions, discussions, and sharing of experiences from the participants. Boyd gave us a variety of additional resources we can use to become even more well-informed. 

The webinars were recorded and are available for viewing on the CPMC website. We encourage people to access them for their own individual use, for Sunday School classes or Bible study groups. They are a valuable resource that can be used in any number of settings. 

The purpose of the Outreach and Service Committee is to assist member congregations in promoting all forms of Christian witness, including evangelism, peace, justice, and church planting efforts in both our geographical area and the global community. This primary purpose is carried out in part through three task groups: The Ecuador/Venezuela Partnership, the Peace and Justice Task Group, and the Church Planting Strategy Team. The Outreach and Service Committee works closely with Nathan Luitjens, the Executive Conference Minister.

THE WORK OF THE CONFERENCE BOARD
by May Ying Yang, Saint Paul Hmong Mennonite Church, Saint Paul, MN

What does it look like to follow the Holy Spirit instead of trying to lead it? How do you know that your plans are God's plans? How do you determine God's calling for you? How do you follow Jesus Christ's leadership model and put it into practice in today's church?

On November 15-16, 2019, Saint Paul Hmong Mennonite Church held our first Leadership Retreat at Mt. Olivet Conference & Retreat Center in Minnesota. The retreat was held to bring leaders together to work on building strong relationships, and to develop leadership skills through trainings, worship, fellowship and activities. 

The retreat began with worship and a sermon by Pastor Xeng about the importance of being a leader. Worship and prayer were an important part of the retreat. 

The first worship was led by Phil Stoltzfus. He reviewed and taught about Anabaptist history and important Anabaptist theological themes such as Salvation and Discipleship, The Lord's Supper, Christian Community and Peacemaking. His passionate teaching was inspiring. 

Later Seng Vang taught about being a disciple of Jesus and listening for God's call. We were invited to ask ourselves questions like: Am I listening to God's calling? Am I doing what God wants me to do rather than my own heart's desire? Am I willing to fully commit my body to God and to follow God like Peter, Paul and many of the other disciples did? 

The final teaching was from Shoua Thao. Shoua taught about "minding your focus," or the importance of focusing on God by overcoming spiritual distractions. 

Before the retreat ended, the congregational board members (overseers) met with their assigned ministry leadership group to talk about the roles people were invited to, and to answer their questions. Each ministry group also had time to share their goals and plan for the coming year. 

The church leaders enjoyed the retreat because everyone was able to learn something useful for their ministry. Many look forward to having a retreat like this again as it's a great way to renew, reflect, and refresh oneself spiritually, mentally, and physically before serving the church. 

Our church leadership team are so grateful for the love, support, and help that CPMC and local churches give to us. May the Lord our God continue to bless each one of you abundantly. 

May Ying Yang and the leadership team received money from the New Ministries Fund, administered by the CPMC Conference Board for their leadership retreat. 

The New Ministries Fund is distributed for programs or events that facilitate relationships, assist witness, aid in leadership development, or nurture Christian formation. Applications to receive New Ministries Fund money are available by contacting the Executive Conference Minister. 

The CPMC Conference Board meets four times a year, rotating meeting locations among the communities of our conference. Meeting dates and times are published in The Sower. 

by Nathan Luitjens, Executive Conference Minister

Hi, my name is Nathan Luitjens and I have the privilege of being the new Executive Conference Minister for Central Plains. As I sit here in my office in Kalona, Iowa, it seems strange to think about how my journey has brought me to this place. 

I was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and spent most of my growing up years in Nipawin, a town of 4,500 people. In Nipawin, winter began by the end of October and usually didn't end until sometime in early April. The town had a total of four ice rinks, two indoor and two outdoor. Each year, Nipawin hosted a curling bonspiel where a prize for the winning team was four new cars. Olds, Iowa is (in many ways) a long way from home. 

I didn't grow up in a Mennonite church. Both of my parents had grown up Mennonite, but there was not a Mennonite church in Nipawin, so we attended a Christian and Missionary Alliance church during my formative years. While there is a great deal about my faith development that I credit to this church, I also had many questions about faith that were raised during those years. 

During my senior year, I was privileged to attend and live in the dorm at Rosthern Junior College, a Mennonite high school. This was, in many ways, my introduction to Anabaptist theology. While it didn't answer all of my faith questions, that year certainly caused me to continue to ask healthy and challenging questions about the theology I had grown up with. Following high school, I spent two years studying before finishing my undergraduate degree at Canadian Bible College (now Ambrose University). 

I spent two of my undergraduate years in Mexico City doing an internship. These were formative years as I worked in churches under local leadership while living with a host family from the church. I deeply enjoyed the experience of living and working in churches in Mexico, and I was challenged by the ways in which these congregations were using the Gospel to impact their local communities. 

After finishing my undergraduate degree, I moved to Vancouver, BC where I attended Regent College, a seminary on the campus of the University of British Columbia. While there, I took a half-time position as the youth pastor at First United Mennonite Church (FUMC). I found working with youth and seeing them grow very rewarding. Iw as especially interested in the decisions they made about live and work and school. I also appreciated being able to apply what I was learning in school directly into my ministry context.

During those years in Vancouver, I was very fortunate to marry Rachelle, whom I had met in Mexico City. When my three year term at FUMC was up, I began to look for other opportunities in the Mennonite Church. One day I got a call from the search committee at Sugar Creek Mennonite Church in Wayland, Iowa. I am a little embarrassed to admit that I had to look up Iowa on a map (in my mind it was much further west), but after a couple of visits and al ack of understanding about just how frustrating the immigration system can be, Rachelle and I moved to Iowa and I began to pastor at Sugar Creek, a place that I have called home for the last sixteen years. 

When I think about what I bring to this role in CPMC, I think about what Sugar Creek asked me to do when I arrived there in 2004. My work was to help them become more missional, and over the years as I have taught and encouraged, I have been a witness to this remarkable congregation as they have taken deeper and deeper interest in the community around them. Not everything has gone perfectly and we've had many fits and starts along the way, but I see Sugar Creek today as a group of disciples of Jesus who are seeking to engage with the folks they meet in their community in new and exciting ways. 

I have also thought often about the societal changes that we are facing here in North America (and particularly here in the midwest). The world is changing around us. The church used to have more prominence and influence over the communities in which we live. We can mourn that loss of influence or power or we can begin to see the opportunities that a post-Christian society presents. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't just mean being like everyone else, but maybe a little nicer. Today we have the opportunity to differentiate ourselves from the world around us and to demonstrate what a life lived in service to Jesus could look like. As Anabaptist Christians we have a unique theology that should position us to show the world a different way of living and being that challenges the polarity and angry rhetoric of our society. 

I am looking forward to walking alongside congregations as we seek to discern who God is calling each of us to be, and how God is calling us to engage with our communities I look forward to meeting with churches and to hearing the stories of what God is doing in our midst. When I begin full-time work with CPMC in September I will be available to assist congregations in thinking through your mission and vision as you engage with the world. I pray that God's kingdom would come and God's will would be done in our churches and communities as it is in heaven. 

Nathan lives in Olds, Iowa with his wife, Rachelle, and their three boys, Mattias, Tristan, and Kieran. Nathan is working for CPMC .25 FTE, and will begin full-time in September. 

by Marcia Yoder-Schrock​


“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope.”
— Thess. 1:2-3

As of January 31, Marcia Yoder-Schrock and Firman Gingerich have ended their six-month terms as Interim Co-Executive Conference Ministers of Central Plains Mennonite Conference. Here are some of their reflections on their time in Central Plains leadership.

Serving in an administrative role for the last six months gives me a different perspective, yet confirms my sense of who we are—47 Mennonite congregations scattered across the prairies who live in covenant with each other to be Central Plains Mennonite Conference.

It is within our diverse country and city congregations that our faith in Jesus the Christ is being anchored and is growing. It is in these local congregations that people meet regularly for worship—singing, confessing, praying, and preaching. It is here that we study the scriptures together and share hospitality. It is in these congregations that we learn a new way of life-- following after Jesus and being empowered by the Spirit. It is in local congregations that we enjoy fellowship and make every effort to work through our differences. It is in these congregations where our witness of faith in Jesus the Christ is on the cutting edge, where God’s mission intersects with our lives—at home, in our neighborhoods, workplaces and world.

As the Apostle Paul gives thanks for the young congregation in Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 1: 2-3, so too, I am grateful for the congregations of Central Plains Mennonite Conference. The life and witness of each congregation is enhanced, intensified and increased when we join together to hear testimony, support, and even “provoke (spur) one another to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). In these conference connections and fellowship the Spirit is present, energizing us for God’s mission wherever the Spirit prompts. This is work we can do together that would not be possible separately. Here is some of what I’ve seen.

We always thank God because...we remember your work that comes from faith...”
When congregations are seeking pastoral leadership, the Conference Minister forMinisterial Leadership, Susan Janzen, assists with pastoral searches. When a congregation calls a pastor the Pastoral Leadership Committee interviews and credentials them; chaplains also receive their credentials from conference. Susan offers advice for pastoral evaluations, sabbaticals and support for pastors and congregations working together. She also gives counsel in case of an ethical lapse.

As congregational leaders and teachers provide spiritual nurture for children, youth and adults, they can look to Amanda Bleichty, Conference Minister for Christian Formation. She offers guidance finding spiritual resources in person or online. On February 12 congregations and families with elementary-aged children are invited to a reading party webinar with picture books selected from the Shalom Reader’s Library.

Great reviews of meaningful books for reading or study were recommended by adults and children from various Central Plains congregations in the November 2019 Scattered Seeds.

“We always thank God because...we remember your effort that comes from love....”
Every one to two years, congregational members from Central Plains are invited to participate in a service and learning trip to Ecuador, working together with the Ecuadorian Mennonite congregations, Columbian Mennonite Church and Mennonite Mission Network in a shared mission of aiding refugees and peacemaking groups. The trip this year, from March 4-14, celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Ecuador Partnership.

Entire congregations, small groups and pastors are encouraged to get together locally February 11, 18, and 25 for a webinar led by Dick Boyd called, “Musings of a Recovering Racist.” Outreach and Service Committee offers this relevant topic for our conference in light of demographic changes in our society, overt racism showing its face across our country, and the conference’s commitment to working cross-culturally.

Whether the Spirit is prompting us toward God’s mission in international places such as SE Asia, to build bridges between congregations or to practice peace in our homes and communities, it is a beautiful thing when congregations support God’s mission with generous giving. Year end giving in 2019 was definitely a “Hallelujah” moment.

We always thank God because. . . we remember your perseverance that comes from hope in our Lord Jesus Christ...”
Conference work takes steady persistence of faithful committee chairs and members to organize and lead purposeful meetings. Since June 2019 it requires another level of perseverance for the search committee discerning the call of an Executive Conference Minister.

What a joy to hear how church planters are persevering in teaching emerging congregations what it means to be faithful followers of Christ in an Anabaptist Mennonite perspective. Or in a leader beginning a restorative Bible study group for un-churched people who are open to what the Bible holds.

Even as the church is changing, a new generation of leaders will cast a vision for the future of Central Plains Mennonite Conference. Thanks be to God! There will be both opportunities and challenges for faithful practices-praying, working together and growing based on “hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

by Firman Gingerich

As of January 31, Marcia Yoder-Schrock and Firman Gingerich have ended their six-month terms as Interim Co-Executive Conference Ministers of Central Plains Mennonite Conference. Here are some of their reflections on their time in Central Plains leadership.

1 Thessalonians 2:2-3 says, “We remember your work that comes from faith, your effort that comes from love, and your perseverance that comes from hope.” Indeed, this verse could well describe my experience as an interim member of the Executive Conference Ministry Staff for Central Plains Mennonite Conference. The past six months have been very stimulating for my personal faith and my leadership journey.

I have a new understanding of what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3 on the subject of nurturing faith, “I planted, Apollos watered and God gave growth.” I entered this journey with you after much seed development and growth were underway, and those things will continue far beyond my departure. Said in my own way, I saw lots of planting, watering and signs of growth and yes, even struggle, in these months of serving among you.

I witnessed healthy and high expectations from folks who frequently reached out for counsel and support. Clearly previous CPMC leaders have helped nurture the idea that congregations and pastors both need the relationships and resources of others to help them problem-solve and strengthen their ministries. Our Central Plains mission statement calls us to, “create settings for our congregations and pastors to grow in holistic witness to God’s reconciling mission.”

I noticed that within 30 minutes of Susan Janzen’s first day in the office as Conference Minister for Ministerial Leadership, she started getting phone calls from leaders to share, test ideas and explore creative ministry responses. When Amanda Bleichty returned to her role as Conference Minister for Christian Formation following her maternity leave, I noticed a burst of energy in the office, as well as within our network of congregations, as she stepped into a number of preaching and congregational resourcing events. It’s been a great joy to see Susan and Amanda traveling into so many different congregations to share their leadership gifts and understandings.

When I attended the annual Conference of Committees meeting in Freeman, South Dakota in September, I was blessed to see so many examples of focused leadership in the groups that serve us. Participating in our various ministry and leadership committees, I witnessed our common vision to help each other grow in holistic witness at work. These various committees are helping to lead us as we offer God’s reconciling love in the communities where we live and serve. I came away from this gathering thrilled and overjoyed for the creative and dedicated planning that undergirds our lives and witness together as a conference of congregations.

Our church and world are very different today than they were 36 years ago when I began ministry. As a lay leader and then seminary student, I was trained for a different time and different kind of leadership than is required today. The church I was trained to serve was a much more program oriented church living in a culture that often shared its values. Our church today is much more decentralized. Polarization patterns in the culture have followed us into our congregations. Changing church attendance patterns and trends toward finding churches that meet the needs of individuals and families have affected our Sunday morning expectations.

Older fellows like me can get weak-kneed thinking about the future of the church, but I think we are in the midst of a valuable time of sorting priorities and creating a church that is an outpost of God’s kingdom now and into the future. I think Jesus’ invitation and call to be about making disciples is at the center of what the church needs to be. I think with sadness of the time we spent in past generations enamored with the church as a settled group, the time we failed in our disciple making. I see younger leaders who are well poised to help us hear Jesus call the church and all of us as individuals to “Come and follow me.” I have hope as I see leaders today who are more adept at helping local congregations find ways to represent who Jesus is to them and to their local community.

I thank you for this opportunity to walk among you for this part of the journey. It’s been a particular gift to have partnered with a number of conference leaders as well as our staff: Amanda Bleichty, Susan Janzen and Marcia Yoder-Schrock. I give thanks for the signs that I have witnessed that the congregations of Central Plains Mennonite Conference are leaning into the hope that God is calling us to witness and share now and in the future.

 For babies/children/youth:
    Books:
     Everything points to Jesus in Jesus Calling: My First Bible Storybook (boardbook)
        https://www.amazon.com/dp/0718076052/ref=rdr_ext_sb_ti_sims_2 (baby)
 
       Read real stories of everyday peacemakers in Walking with Jesus
    https://store.mennomedia.org/Walking-with-Jesus-P5136.aspx (elementary)
 
       A prayer journal for kids. Writing to God
       http://www.soundmindandspirit.com/2012/08/whats-on-your-bookshelf-writing-to-god.html (elementary)

       Give your teen a devotional book to Dive into
       https://store.mennomedia.org/Dive-P1078.aspx (youth)
 
  Toys:
       Help children understand and experience the Christmas story with nativity toys like:
       This finger puppet nativity from 10,000 villages
       https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/nativities/finger-puppet-nativity (preschool/elementary)
            Or
       This wooden nativity from Target
       target.com/p/10pc-wooden-christmas-nativity-decorative-figurine-set-wondershop-8482/-/A-54528656 
       (preschool/elementary)
 
       A busy baby scarf mom can wear that gently exposes babies to some of the symbols of our faith.
       https://www.amazon.com/DEMDACO-Mommy-Fabric-Activity-Scarf/dp/B07JM3Y6P9?th=1 (baby)
 
       An instrument from 10,000 villages to support fair-trade business and encourage a joyful noise!
​       https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/chimes-whistles-flutes/ (any age!)
 
For Families:
       Something (anything) for the family to do together—like this gingerbread house kit from Target
       https://www.target.com/p/holiday-deluxe-gingerbread-house-kit-38-8oz-wondershop-8482/-/A-54615213
 
       Creative prayer books like Praying in Color or Praying in Color Kids Edition
       https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Color-Drawing-Active-Prayer/dp/1557255121/ref=sr_1_1?
 
       https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Color-Kids-Sybil-MacBeth/dp/1557255954/ref=sr_1_2?
 
       A set of The Lord’s Prayer coloring posters for the whole family
   store.illustratedministry.com/collections/coloring-sheets-posters/products/hand-lettered-lords-prayer-coloring-posters
 
      The Bible project poster collection
      https://thebibleproject.com/products/poster-book-collection/
 
      For grandparents, the book Please Pass the Faith about spiritual grandparenting
      https://store.mennomedia.org/Please-Pass-the-Faith-P1255.aspx
 
For people who cook:
      The Mennonite cookbook trifecta
      More with Less
         https://store.mennomedia.org/More-with-Less-Cookbook-P5277.aspx
      Simply in Season
         https://store.mennomedia.org/Simply-in-Season-Tenth-Anniversary-Edition-P4820.aspx
      Extending the Table
         https://store.mennomedia.org/Extending-the-Table-revised-edition-paper-P4229.aspx
 
For the history buff:
      The Martyrs Mirror
      https://store.mennomedia.org/Martyrs-Mirror-P418.aspx
 
For the peacemaker:
      Repurposed bombshell jewelry, symbols of peace, strength and resilience
      https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/bombshell-jewelry
 
      A RAW garden tool, repurposed from a gun
      https://rawtools.org/product/garden-mattock/
 
For the Reader:
    Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks by Diana Butler Bass 
​  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062659472/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=sl1&tag=faithont-20&linkId=5dcedd8fc56732a7d61a40ba093e4ae7
 
    Fire by Night: Finding God in the pages of the Old Testament, Melissa Florer-Bixler
      https://store.mennomedia.org/Fire-by-Night-P5428.aspx
 
    The Bible Unwrapped: Making Sense of Scripture Today, Meghan Larissa Good
      https://store.mennomedia.org/The-Bible-Unwrapped-P5388.aspx
 
    Trouble I’ve Seen: Changing the way the church views racism, Drew G. I. Hart
      https://store.mennomedia.org/Trouble-Ive-Seen-P4634.aspx
 
    Take Our Moments and Our Days, the Anabaptist Prayer Book, ordinary time
      https://store.mennomedia.org/Take-Our-Moments-and-Our-Days-P1328.aspx
    Take Our Moments and Our Days, The Anabaptist Prayer Book, Advent-Pentecost
      https://store.mennomedia.org/Take-Our-Moments-and-Our-Days-Volume-2-P493.aspx
 
For the person who has everything:
      Make a donation in their name!Donate a flock of chicks ($20), rabbits ($60), goats ($120), etc.
      https://www.heifer.org/
 
      Donate to an MCC project
      https://donate.mcc.org/
 
      Donate to Central Plains Mennonite Conference!
​      http://www.centralplainsmc.org/donate.html

Annual Meeting 2019

by Elizabeth Harder Schrock
First Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake, Minnesota​

​​Worship services at Central Plains Mennonite Conference are a highlight for many of us who attend Annual Meeting, and this year was no exception. From beautiful banners and joyfully on-theme announcements to harmonious singing in multiple languages and communion on Sunday morning, we were led in worship inspired by the movement of the Holy Spirit. 

This year's annual meeting took place at Iowa Mennonite School near Kalona on June 20-23--two weeks after the church's celebration of Pentecost. But Pentecost has not merely come and gone, said Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns, keynote preacher for the weekend. Pentecost is no less than "God's great reclamation project," and we are called to participate in that project of reclaiming all of creation. 

Dr. Bridges Johns is Professor of Spiritual Renewal at Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee, and has directed the Society for Pentecostal Studies. She has participated in major ecumenical conversations, including the ongoing Mennonite Church USA-Church of God dialogue. In addition to her many credentials, Dr. Bridges Johns is a gifted, passionate preacher who filled us with a sense that the Holy Spirit was present in our midst. 

And how we need the Spirit's presence in our "postmodern wilderness," which she vividly described as an age of absence, absence of truth, absence of norms, and absence of identity. Friday morning's sermon was rooted in Exodus 33:12ff, in which Moses pleads with God to know God better. The worst he can imagine is the absence of God: "If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here" (v15). The Israelites were in the wilderness, still in search of their identity and purpose and not yet in covenant with God. In that absence, they had turned to "spectacle" --in their case, worship of the golden calf. In our times, the spectacle has moved into the world of government, church (think strobe lights and smoke machines), and of course, social media. But spectacles quickly turn cruel and dark, where people without a sense of identity and purpose participate with their claps or boo's from a distance, not fully engaged.

What the church has to offer in this postmodern wilderness is presence. Where God's Word is given, said Dr. Bridges Johns, there is always God's presence. Where Jesus, the living presence of God, is followed, there is God's presence. And the Holy Spirit that inspired the Word is always present when scripture is read and studied. 

Dr. Bridges Johns noted that Central Plains Mennonites are a people of the covenant. As such, she encouraged us to also be people of presence, to hunger for God to go with us as Moses did. "This time we're in doesn't look too good," she admitted, "and we can't go there unless GOd's presence goes with us. That is enough." We do not need to fear the future, for God rushes in when we ask. 

In her second sermon, Dr. Bridges Johns extended the theme of presence to Jesus' promise in John 14:15-24 to not leave his disciples orphaned. The "Spirit of truth" will bring them through dark times to come--again, dark times not unlike our own reality, where "truth has forsaken these lands." 

Dr. Bridges Johns pointed out that Anabaptists have a particular commitment to obedience to the way of Jesus. CPMC bears witness to that in our Covenant of Spiritual Practices, in which we as a group "seek transformation toward Christlikeness and renewal by the Holy Spirit." If Anabaptists have focused on Jesus as the way, Evangelicals and Baptists lead the church toward following Jesus as the truth. And Pentecostals' contribution is to point toward Jesus as the life, living in us: "On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you" (John 14:20). 

This indwelling of the Spirit isn't so much about suggesting an appropriate Bible verse to us here and there, but rather a whole new level of existence. In Dr. Bridges Johns' description, "it is the arm of God reaching out, sweeping down and taking us into God's economy, into God's life." She encouraged us to hunger for this mystical way of life, where we get to enter into the household of the church and where we in turn can say to anyone: "welcome to our new world--the place where Jesus abides and where you are loved."

In her final sermon, Dr. Bridges Johns again linked Pentecostals' and Mennonites' gifts to the larger church by asking what could happen if the Spirit of power were to be joined with the Spirit of peace. In fact, that is what living in the Feast of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) is all about. The powerful wind and fire of that day were signs of God's plan to reclaim and restore the entire cosmos to shalom. Our own restoration--our salvation--brings us into active participation in God's great restoration project. And in being the present, patient, faithful church--"singing together in beautiful harmony" -- we are pointing to, and preparing for, the day when all shall be filled with the glory of God. 

"Don't grow weary, but hunger for the new," urged Dr. Bridges Johns, because we know that it will be good.

Annual Meeting 2019

by Lois Janzen Preheim
Salem Mennonite Church, Freeman, South Dakota

Central Plains Mennonite Conference celebrated several transitions as we met for Annual Meeting this year. On Friday afternoon, delegates and guests gathered for the installation of new ministry staff, Amanda Bleichty and Susan Janzen. Then on Friday evening the assembly celebrated and gave thanks for the ministries of Tim Detweiler and David Boshart. 

At the installation service on Friday afternoon, incoming Conference Moderator Shawn Nolt humorously referenced his background in computer engineering when he invited CPMC to think about what installation means. In addition to other considerations and often lengthy installation processes, he suggested that when choosing new software, one needs to think about what you want the system to do. In the same way, the conference churches need to be thinking again as we work with new staff, "What do we want the new people to do?" Unlike a computer, the church is an organic body, and there are at least two callings to new staff: one from God and one from the community. Each of the new staff have their own internal sense of these two callings. So when these callings mesh together into decisions we all affirm, it is a wondrous thing. 

Amanda Bleichty, former pastor of Washington Mennonite Church, was installed as the Conference Minister for Christian Formation. Amanda began her position in January and she and her husband are expecting their first child in July. As she reflected on these changes during her installation response, she expressed a note of excitement for the future. "While changes can bring anxiety and fear, I am excited for all of these life transitions. I'm excited for the possibilities as a new ministry team begins working together. I'm excited about building a family here amid the larger family of brothers and sisters in Central Plains." Amanda has taken over the role that Shana Peachey Boshart vacated in July of 2018. 

Susan Janzen, the former pastor of Cedar Falls Mennonite Church, was installed as the Conference Minister for Ministerial Leadership. Susan will begin her position in August, taking over for Tim Detweiler as he retires. Susan reflected that it has been 21 years since she began in pastoral leadership and that lately, she has been living with a growing sense that it is time for her to begin mentoring another generation of ministering people. 

At the farewell celebration for Tim Detweiler and David Boshart later Friday evening, Tim also expressed the idea that "it is time." For him, it is time to lay down responsibilities and awareness of the whole conference and to attend to his wife, children and grandchildren, and maybe a woodworking project or two. he said, "It has been an honor to serve Central Plains Mennonite Conference and there will be many parts of this work that I will miss, but I am also looking forward to the next chapter in my life called retirement."

David Boshart will also leave Central Plains at the end of July to pursue other opportunities, and said of this transition, "Every year at Annual meeting, I fall in love with the people of God who make up Central Plains. It was a powerful experience to pass the symbols of our conference (the basin and towel, the pitcher, and the peace pipe) to such warm, capable, and competent servant leaders who will guide Central Plains to a new level of witness and faithfulness. 

At both of these transitional celebrations, symbols and gifts were exchanged, laughter was heard, and tears were shed. One powerful gift was a set of plaques expressing gratitude to Shana, Tim and David from the Hispanic churches in our conference. After giving the plaques, Ramiro Hernandez led in circles of prayer and blessing for these three leaders who have led Central Plains so wisely for so many years. These prayers echoed and affirmed Amanda's call to prayer, "I ask that as these changes happen, you keep all of our ministry team in your prayers, and that you give us grace and encouragement as we continue the good work of this conference."